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If you want to manipulate someone, put their ego in a headlock and then release it. Next, pat their ego on the head, give ‘em a soft kiss, and call ‘em handsome. They’ll do whatever you want now! (It works at least 90% of the time.)
Ourdesireforself-importancetendstobeourblindspot.
That’sbecauseeveryone’sthestaroftheirownlifestory:It’salwaysaboutthem.
Evenwhenitisn’t.
Fouryearsago,nobodyvotedforJoeBidenbecausetheybelievedhewasagenerationalpoliticaltalent.Notevenclose!Bidenwasthesafe,predictablealternativetoTrumpamidstthechaosanduncertaintyoftheCOVID-19pandemic.Forfrustrated,left-of-centervoters,Bidenwasabridgecandidate—abridgebacktonormalcy.
Unfortunately,Bideninterpretedthe2020electionthroughhisownego:Hemadeitallabouthimself.Evenashisbrainwitheredanddecayed,hestubbornlyinsistedhewastheonlymanforthejob.
UpuntilthatdisastrousdebatewithDonaldTrump,Bidenwasstrokinghisego,playingthelegacycard,declaringhimselfoneofthe“mostconsequentialpresidentsinAmericanhistory!”—aboastsoabsurdandinsanethatitshould’vebee
